Customer Reviews

Style by Saladino

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of those very few design books in which the text is better than the photos. A great designer shares a wealth of information on the principles of classic design. There is more information in this book than I recieved in four years of design school. Well worth the money if you care anything about great design.

This book is extremely generous in that Saladino doesn't prescribe a style, a period, a "look"; rather he shares his aesthetic, as a set of principles -- of organization, (symmetry) space, texture, color. I share his aesthetic values, so I personally loved this book. So must many others, judging by the influence he has had on so many designers. I have seen some of the wonderful photos of Saladino's rooms, as they have been previously published in the shelter magazines. But here they are organized and they illustrate the well-described principles. I have many design books -- this is by far the very best.

Although the photographs seem to relate to very expensive homes, the text is a blueprint for turning any home, no matter how modest, into a stylish sanctuary. After reading the book, I immediately saw the space in my (modest) home differently, and I went through it, room by room, applying the simple (yet profound) principles that are the foundation of Saladino style. I found that I had to make only one purchase--a $25 mirror--everything else I used I already had on hand (just in the wrong place). I love my home now, it truly feels like the sanctuary I wanted but, before I read Style by Saladino, couldn't seem to create.

Wow!John Saladino certainly has a following with other interior designers and I can certainly see why.His interiors are beautifully well done and tastefully presented;probably close to perfect. While I certainly admire his obvious talents and learned from his views,I find that the majority of his interior spaces leaves me cold.I think I expected this book to be more about the beauty,warmth and romance of country French interiors and perhaps a little charm of mixed European styles.There wasn't really much if any of that found.However,I enjoyed reading this book and loved the gardens and garden spaces he created with well thought out plans for ultimate comfort and relaxation.I gained some ideas for lighting which I will use.He is quite cleaver and absolutely creative but I don't understand his dislike of lamps.No doubt I can learn a lot from this book even though some of it will be what I don't want to do in my personal living space.I loved his "ancient" walls and was glad he described the technique used on them.If you have huge rooms to decorate this book will be extremely helpful. I'm happy to have the book but still it did not say to me "welcome" or satisfy my desire for the beauty of color,warmth and home fires.I am still looking for a book which fits that description.

I can see why this book might not be for everyone, but as a designer, I have enjoyed it. I have trouble understanding the reviewer who thought the writing sounded snobbish or felt the book was simply for the wealthy. Understand his principles of design, and you can use those to do a great room with low-cost IKEA furniture if you want to.

As a budding designer, I purchased this book in order to gain a more intimate look at one very gifted man's inspirations and approach to design. This book delivers the goods on two levels. Saladino's insights are personal, insightful and educational, and the accompanying photos are spectacular. There aren't any "tricks of the trade" here, but what you will find are the foundational principals behind Saladino's definition of good design. Be forewarned - Like any great artist, Saladino has some strong opinions. But that is exactly why I bought the book. I was looking for his thoughts and his opinions - I was not looking for a "Design 1-2-3" book. His book has helped me further advance my own personal design approach (which is not a clone of Saladino's), and take my art to a new level. I would recommend the book to those who either love Saladino's look, or those who want to explore some deeper issues about style, design and inspiration.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. Saladino's design book has beautiful illustrations and he describes how to see in a way that is so soothing and gorgeous. his writing style allows you to understand how he visually conceptualizes a room. Consequently how you view the world is changed; for the better, because you are able to see and create more beauty.

John Saladino's book is packed with design concepts and inspiring ideas. The book is full of beautiful pictures of his interiors, so majestic and practical at the same time...by far the most inspiring book I've read about interior design.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in good design both interior and exterior. As an Interior Designer I have always liked the style of John Saladino and this book presents his work beautifully. A wonderful source.

John Saladino is a world-renown interior designer for good reason--check out this book and you will see why. This is an outstanding resource--the text and photos are very compliemntary and do a good job illustrating foundational design principles. As a trained professional in the industry I highly recommend this book to design students and other practitioners alike--as well as anyone interested in refining their visual vocabulary. (The person who gave this book a negative review might, I suspect, be a tad jealous.)